I want to thank all of those who post on this board. On Saturday, I finished a 617 engine transplant into my '84 300SD and all the reading I have done contributed to the success of the operation. Finished the work Saturday about 7:00 p.m., on Sunday I drove about 50 miles to see my uncle (WW II Vet, "the big one") in a rehab facility. Car drove well, AC worked.

On the return trip as I am congratulating myself, the tranny begins to slip. Uh oh. Car gods are going to get me for being cocky. It appears the @#$% mechanic (yes that would be moi) may have overfilled the trans - DUH!!

Limped the car home. It sits on a gentle grade pointed up-hill. Engine starts up BEAUTIFULLY, move shifter to gears, including R - nothing, nada, zip. Nothing in any gear. Rev engine, still nothing.

So here's where I need help. Before I go looking for a trans, are there any tests I can do. I searched "transmission" til late last night and have a couple of ideas. I have already drained off some fluid. I'm thinking there may be a vacuum issue I didn't get right - but if that were the case it most likely would not have worked from the beginning.

I have checked vacuum lines and all seem well connected. Based on last night's search. I will break out the MIGHTY VAC tonight, and check modulator and and anything else that looks like it needs testing.

I have a really bad feeling about this though. Assuming I do need a replacement trans, my search also indicates that if I swap over the valve body from my SD trans, I can use a 380 420 500 560 trans and still have first gear start. Does this sound correct?

I can't beleive I did this. At my age (don't ask) I should know better. I think that car gods are less tolerant of mistakes as mistakers become more experienced.

Lesson learned for me - and I should know it by now - don't be impatient

You could pull the pan and replace the filter to be sure. The vacuum modulator only controls the firmness or softness of the shift depending on amount of vacuum to the modulator. Do the simple stuff first before changing out a tranny.

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Vacuum will not be the problem. Are you sure the linkage is all hooked up correct. Did you have the linkage off? Make sure it is correct. Short of that it sounds like front pump failure. When the front pump goes south, nobody goes anywhere. Do you have any history with the transmission-that is, how long have you operated it in the past.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

Thanks, will pull pan & check filter. Yes, I did have the linkage off (where the bowden cable connects to the box at the top of the engine) and it is a slightly different arrangement. Will take another look at that.

Preciate your help.

Back to my other question - will the V8 trans fit and work? thanks again

Did you look at the linkage from the shifter to the trans? Maybe the pushing fell out along with the linkage.

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Thanks - will check that too -

IIRC, the starter wart is on the wrong side of the bell housing. So, no it will not work.

__________________
RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K